Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 51

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128

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and Alfred L., twins ;- all now living in Texas excepting the twins. lliram Bennett moved from Georgia to Alabama in 1833, to Arkansas in 1840, and to Texas in 1845, settling on Mesquite creek east of Dallas eity; then moved to Eagle Ford on Elm fork of the Trinity river, next to Arkansas again and finally baek to Texas.

William H. Bennett, the subject of this sketch, was married in Arkansas, September 29, 1843, to Miss Sidney Manning, who was born to Redriek Manning, in Fayette county, Georgia, January 3, 1827. Her father, Redriek Manning, died in Arkansas in 1843, at the age of sixty-two years; her mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Wiliford, died in 1837. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Manning are Sidney, wife of W. HI. Bennett; Sarah A., wife of Benjamin Meral; and Travis. Mr. Manning's second wife was, before her marriage, Miss Delilah Bennett, and by her he also had three children, Dosia, Bennett and Elizabeth, all deceased.

M ICHAEL T. CONE .- The beautiful Emerald Isle has contributed to America some of her most loyal citi- zens, among whom we find the subject of this brief biographical sketeh. He was born in county Galway, Ireland, in 1858, and in his youth emigrated to the United States with his parents who settled at Maysville, Ken- tueky. In 1875 he came to Dallas, Texas, and secured employment with the companies then construeting railroads over the State. While serving these corporations he filled many positions of trust guiding his condnet by the strictest principles of honor and integ- rity. When the work of construction was finished he embarked in the grocery business,

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

under the firm name of Cone & Co. · and carried on the business for five years. At the end of that' period he went into patent- roofing business with Mr. King, his brother- in- law. They have had contraets over the whole State, and every transaction has added to their business and list of personal friends.

In 1888, without his personal knowledge or solicitation, Mr. Cone was nominated for Alderman from the Sixth ward, was elected and was almost immediately appointed ehair- man of one of the important committees, the one on Sewers and Drains. With his usual energy he dispatched the business of this de- partment. In 1890 the citizens of Dallas further testified to their confidence in his ability by requesting a continuance of his services in the same capacity. There is no member of the council more devoted to the interests of the city than be, and none have given more serious thought and attention to the business under their control.

Mr. Cone was married in 1885 to Miss Mol- lie Riley, of Louisville, Kentucky. They are the parents of two children: Thomas King and Nellie Agues.

Our subject affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a stanch adherent to all its prin- ciples. He belongs to the Uniformed Rank K. of P., and is a member of the Catholic Church.

EORGE THOMAS BULLOCK, a pros- perons farmer of Dallas county, was born on a farm in this county, January 19, 1856, a son of Washington C. and Caro- line Bullock, a sketch of whom appears in this work. George T., our subject, was reared in his native place until the age of ten years, and then on the farm where his mother now lives. In 1883 Mr. Bullock bought 160 acres

of land on the prairie adjoining Grapevine creek, and has since added to this purchase until he now owns about 800 aeres, 100 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation. IIe is engaged principally in stock-raising, is a good trader and hunter, and an active, ener- getie citizen.

Mr. Bullock was married in Dallas county, November 1, 1883, to Laura, a daughter of Conda S. and Margaret Dunagan, then of Tarrant county, but who now resides in the Indian Territory. Mrs. Bullock was born in Vernon county, Missouri, and is one of six children, namely: James T., David N., Rob- ert Lee, Laura and Snow. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock have had five children: Dora L., Minnie F., Maggie, William T. and Ben II. Politieally, Mr. Bullock is identified with the Republican party.

ENJAMIN F. GALLOWAY, a farmer of Precinet No. 3, was born in Sullivan county, East Tennessee, in 1833, the ninth of twelve children born to James and Sarah (Barns) Galloway, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, and of English and Irish pa- rentage. The paternal grandfather of our subjeet, Marshall Galloway, served seven years and seven months in the war for in- dependence, and participated in numerous engagements. James and Thomas Galloway were both in the war of 1812, and the latter served in the battle of New Orleans. The maternal grandmother was stolen from Ire- land when a little girl, while playing on the wharf, was indneed on board the ship and brought to America. She afterward married Mr. Marshall. James Galloway was a suc- cessful farmer, and a workman in wood, iron and stone, who died in 1855. Of their twelve children all lived to be grown, and the mother

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

witnessed the marriage of all but our subject. The eldest, Amanda, now deceased, was the wife of William Spurgin, of Missouri; Will- iam is deceased, but his family now reside in Tennessee; Eliza is the widow of A. H. Beard; Jane is the wife of Jesse Crouch, of Tennes- see; James H. is deceased, and his family reside in Tennessee; John M., deccased, whose family also reside in Tennessee; Thomas resides in Washington county, Ten- nessee; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of J. R. Smith, of Phelps county, Missouri; B. F., our subject; Mary, deceased, the wife of Rev. William A. Keen, of Tennessee; George W. resides in Virginia; and Nathan, of Washing- ton county, Tennessee. George W. was a Lieutenant in the late war, was twice severely wounded, once in the back and again in the eye, and after surrendering he was supposed to have been shot the last time by a neighbor boy, with whom he had attended school. The mother died in 1870; she was a member of the Baptist Church.

Benjamin F., our subject, received his education in the common schools, and also, when twenty-one years of age, attended the Boon's Creek Seminary for twenty months, when his eyes failed and he was obliged to quit school. At the age of twenty-three years he commenced farming on rented land, which occupation he followed until the break- ing out of the war. He enlisted in Company G, Nineteenth Tennessee Regiment, under Colonel Cummins, and participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Jones- borough, Franklin, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and numerons skirmishes. He sur- rendered with Joseph E. Johnston, after which he came home on foot, but found his place a wreck. Mr. Galloway continued farming in Tennessee until 1870, when he traveled for three months, and afterward sold goods for

two years. He was married October 8, 1872, at 11 o'clock, and three hours later started for Texas, with a two-horse wagon, and Deceni- ber 10 landed at the east side of this State. He came to this county in January, 1873, where he rented land for about two years, and in 1874 bought his present place of 101 acres, with no improvements. He has since added 117 acres, and now has 100 acres un- der a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Galloway pays much attention to the rearing of mules, and also horses and cattle, but is now redncing his herd of cattle.

His wife, Eliza Fletcher, was a daughter of Reuben Fletcher, of Washington county, Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Galloway have been born four children, two of whom are now deceased. The living are Bedford F. and Nathan L. The mother died in 1883, at the age of twenty-nine years, and in 1887 Mr. Galloway was married to Amanda J. Miller, of Washington county, Tennessee. Both Mr. and Mrs. Galloway and eldest son are members of the Baptist Church, and the former has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1868, and also of Cyane Lodge, No. 295.

ANIEL M. BAKER, Chief Registry Clerk in the Dallas, Texas, postoffice, was born in the State of Tennessee, in 1840. His father was born in North Carolina, and removed thence to Tennessee at an early day. In 1852 he went to Pope county, Illi- nois, where Daniel M. grew to manhood, and received his education. He had just attained his majority when he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, United States Army, and entered npon a long and severe term of service in a cause which he esteemed of the highest importance. IIe participated

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Cor. inth, and the siege of Vicksburg and Mobile. Early in 1865 he was transferred to Texas, and in November of that year he was honor- ably discharged. Ile enlisted as a non-com- missioned officer, and was promoted succes- sively from post to post until he was made Captain, and was discharged with this title. When the war was ended, he became a mem- ber of the revenue service at Galveston, Texas, and served eighteen years. In 1887, he removed to Dallas, and after engaging in railroad business for several months, was ap- pointed Chief Registry Clerk, a position which he has ably tilled to the present time.

Politically Mr. Baker adheres to the princi- ples of the Republican party, and is one of the leaders in this county. Ile is Con- mander of John A. Dix Post, G. A. R., and takes a deep interest in the organization.

In 1867, he was nuited in marriage to Miss Harrington, and to them have been born three children: Lizzie, Arthur, and Henry.

C. FISHER, who is engaged in farm- ing in Precinct No. 3, Dallas county, Texas, dates his birth in Benton county, Missouri, November 1, 1849. His parents, James M. and Eliza (Bennett) Fisher, natives of Barren county, Kentucky, went to Mis- sonri at an early day, and settled on a farm in Benton county. Of their ten children, the subject of our sketch is the seventh-born. Their names are as follows: G. W., deceased ; Sarah, wife of Alexander Ilolmes, St. Clair county, Missouri; Nancy, wife of H. B. Lightfoot, of Polk county, Missouri; Amanda, wife of Jacob Job, of Monitean county, Mis- souri; Mary E., wife of R. Thrower, of Cali- fornia; Margaret E., wife of a Mr. Foster, of

California; J. C .; Eliza, deceased; and Will- iam G., deceased. The father died in Polk county, Missouri, in 1868, and the mother died the following year in Nebraska, where she was living with one of her children.

J. C. Fisher was educated in Polk county, and at the age of twenty-one commenced lite for himself as a farmer, which vocation he has since followed. He moved from Polk to Vernon county, remaining at the latter place three years. In 1875, he came to Texas, and at first farmed ou rented land. In 1883, he purchased the farm on which he now lives, thirty-six and two-thirds aeres, for which he paid $25 an acre. It is all prairie land and at the time of purchase was nearly all under cultivation. Being choice farming land, it is now valued at from $50 to $60 an acre.

Mr. Fisher was married, April 10, 1871, to Miss Mary A. Morris, of St. Clair county, Missouri. Iler parents, Ilam and Susan (Dallas) Morris, had six children, viz .: Nancy M., wife of Jefferson Durham, of Cedar county, Missouri; Rilda, wife of A. T. Mul- lins, of Cedar county Missouri; Mary A .; the next born is deceased; Snodon, a resi- dent of St. Clair county, Missouri, and Hugh, of Palo Pinto, Texas. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were born seven children, five of whom died when small. Those living are L. S. and Minnie P., both residing with their father. Mrs. Fisher was born November 30, 1851, and departed this life February 27, 1884. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

OHIN T. HAND, Superintendent of Pub- lie Schools of Dallas eity, Texas, is a native of Georgia, born in February, 1835. He is a son of Isaiah and Hannah L. (Ilenderson) Hand, natives of South and

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

North Carolina respectively, of Irish extrae- tion. The father was a planter by oeeupa- tion, but he served a long and honorable term as Probate Judge. He died in 1867. The mother still survives, and lives in Ala- bama. Both were consistent members of the Primitive Baptist Church. John T. attended school until he was fourteen years old, and then began to meet the world, relying upon his own resources. He was desirous of con- tinuing his studies, and by industry and economy he managed to enter Mercer Uni- versity at Macon. Georgia, where he was a student three years. He was graduated in the class of 1856, sharing the honors with Governor MeDaniel. He then taught one year in Georgia, removing at the end of that time to Tyler, Texas, where he entered upon the duties of educator, which did not end for seventeen years. The next seene of his la- bors was the A. & M. College at Bryan, Texas, where he taught the dead languages until they were ent from the course. He then went to Brenham, Texas, and for three years had charge of the public schools in that place. He next went to Corsicana, Texas, and for five years the publie sehools there reaped the benefit of his wide experi- enee. In 1887, when he came to Dallas, he he found the schools in great need of system- atie organization. He at onee went to work with that vigor and assurance which character- izes the toneh of the master, and did not dimin- ish his efforts until the schools of Dallas took rank with the leading schools of the south- west.

Prof. Hand was married in 1858, to Miss Helen J. Spurlin of Georgia, a lady of rare intelligence and fine attainments. Four ehil- dren were born of this union: Flora Philo, the wife of J. W. Lambard; Lulu Corinne, wife of Jack Baker; Barton Bee, a resident

of Cleburne, Texas; and Lillia Belle, wife of Sam. M. Kerr. The parents are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Prof. Hand belongs to the Masonie fraternity. Politi- cally he is an independent Democrat.

ILLIAM H. W. SMITH is a truly representative Texan, althoughi a native of the State of Alabama, born in 1855. His father, Captain W. S. Smith, was a native of South Carolina and a lawyer by profession. After removing to Alabama he gave his attention to agriculture. He married Jane Hillhouse, of South Carolina, and they had born to them ten children, of whom Willliam H. W. is the fourth in order of birth. At the age of fonrteen years he went to Mobile, Alabama, and there seenred employment in a hardware store, which he held until coming to Dallas in 1873. There he followed the same business until he was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1878. He dis- charged his duties with so much promptness and ability that he won the entire confidence of the community, and in November, 1882, he was elected Sheriff. He had a strong op- ponent in Benjamin Jones, Esq., and the race was a elose one. He served to the end of the term, and was re-elected in 1884, de- feating W. P. Cochran by the largest majority ever given any county official. He was especially successful in the administra- tion of his office, and reflected great eredit upon himself and his constitueney.

Mr. Smith was married in Texas, in 1876, to Miss Fannie P. Sharp, granddaughter to the Hon. Robert Y. Hayne, South Carolina's gifted orator. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three children, two were sons and one was a daughter, but only one son survives.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Mr. Smith is a prominent Mason, and has held high official positions in the lodge. In his religious views he subscribes to the doc- trines of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is an ardent Democrat. When Oak Cliff was incorporated he was chosen Marshal, and has been twice selected to fill that office. lIe has been Assessor and Tax Collector of this suburb of Dallas, and has aided very materially in the growth and improvement of the place. He is a man of attractive person- ality, and is very popular with all classes of eitizens. Frank and out-spoken, true to his friends, exact and honorable in all his busi- ness transactions, his name is worthy of preservation in the records of his county.

OBERT J. MILLS, as a farmer and stoek-raiser, has been identified with the interests of Dallas county, Texas, since 1873.

Mr. Mills was born in Daviess county, Kentucky, September 30, 1849, son of Will- iam Holmes Mills and Sally Ann (Estes) Mills, his wife, both natives of Kentucky and of English ancestry. Robert J. was reared on a farin and received his early edu- eation in the common schools, finishing with a course of study at the Baptist Institute, at Owensboro, Kentucky. He made his home with his parents until he was twenty-two years old. Then for two years he taught in the schools of his native State. In the spring of 1873 he came to Texas, and for one season was engaged in herding cattle. After that he engaged in farming near Dallas, renting land on shares for two years with Mr. Bum- pas.

September 27, 1874, Mr. Mills married Miss Elfleda Ellis Coombes, a native of Dal- )

las county, Texas, and a daughter of Isaac Nelson Coombes, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. After his mar- riage Mr. Mills settled on his present farm of 159 aeres, which he has improved and on which he has since been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. Six children have been born to them, namely: Allen, Ruby, Annie Holmes, Henry, Lilian Ivy (who died at the age of one year), and Lou Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are both active and earnest mein- bers of the Christian Church, and in polities he affiliates with the Democratic party.

K. WRIGHT AND SON, contractors and builders of Dallas, have erected some of the principal buildings of this eity, among which may be mentioned the Third Ward School, three churches, the Jones building, Ryan building, and many others. They also erected the Dilley residence of Maple avenue. They employ on an average ten or fifteen men the year around, and do an extensive business.

N. K. Wright was born in Franklin county, Vermont, in 1833, a son of Benjamin and Phœbe (Whitney) Wright, natives also of Vermont. The father moved to Minnesota in 1866, where he died ten years later. Onr subject left home in 1852 and went to St. Paul, Minneapolis, where he worked at his trade. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Min- neapolis Regiment for three months, and at the expiration of that time he returned to St. Paul, in 1862 went to Peoria, Illinois, and engaged in contracting and building, and in 1876 came to Dallas. Mr. Wright was mar- ried in St. l'anl, in 1855, to Mary E. Hunter, a native of Indiana, and daughter of William F. Hunter, who went to Minnesota in 1852, and remained there until his death in 1873.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright had three children: Lewis R., who has been connected with his father in business sinee 1886; Wiley, a Pres- byterian minister of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Jennie, at home. The parents are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Dallas, and socially, Mr. Wright is a member of Tannehill Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was a Mason in Minnesota in 1854, is a member of George H. Thomas Post, No. 6, G. A. R., of Dallas. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.

L. R. Wright, who is associated with his father in business, spent two years studying architecture, and the firm is now prepared to draw their own specifications. He drew the plans for thirty-five buildings built by the firm in 1890.

After the above was written Newel Wright departed this life, November 11, 1891. His sickness, heart-failure, dates from February, 1891, when he was prostrated with an attack of la grippe. He was buried under the auspices of the Masonie order.

B F. BRANDENBURG is a farmer and stoek-raiser, and is one of the well- known citizens of Dallas county, his postoffice address being Duncanville. In brief, a review of his life is as follows :

B. F. Brandenburg was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, October 27, 1842, the seventh son and ninth child of Absalom and Naney (Barker) Brandenburg, natives of Kentneky. Grandfather Samuel Branden- burg was probably a native of Virginia, and his father, Solomon, was a native of Ger- many. Samuel Brandenburg moved to Ken- tucky, settled on a farm and reared four sons. One of these, Absalom, married a

daughter of James Barker, a native of Ken- tueky and of English descent. In 1827, he emigrated to Missouri and located in La Fayette county, where he improved a farm and resided twenty years. In 1847, with his wife and eight children, he started for Texas, his outfit consisting of four wagons-two drawn by horses and two by oxen-and a spring wagon, landing in Dallas county in the fall of that year. Of Calvin G. Cole he purehasad 257 aeres, a part of which is now included in the city of Dallas. He improved that property and purchased other lands until he owned 277 aeres, on which he was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1872, at the age of eighty-one years. His first wife died in 1863 and he was subsequently married to Mrs. Patton, by whom he had one child.

The subject of our sketch was five years old when he came to Texas. He was reared on his father's frontier farm and remained with him until the breaking out of the Civil war. He enlisted in February, 1862, in Company C, Sixth Texas Cavalry, followed the fortunes of the Army of the Tennessee and served until the close of the war. He then returned to Dallas county and engaged in farming. He was married March 26, 1868, to Miss Sarah Josephine Merrifield, a native of Dallas county, Texas, and a daugh- ter of William and Catherine (Hiekman) Merrifield. Her parents came from Kentucky to this place in 1849 and purchased 320 acres of wild land and resided here the rest of their days. They had eight children who grew to maturity and seven are still living. Mr. Merrifield died in November, 1880 and his wife in 1882.

After the death of his father, Mr. Bran- denburg removed to the old homestead, re- sided there nine years, and in 1883 moved

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

to the Merrifield place. Ile has a farm of 575 acres of improved land, all in a high state of cultivation. ITis chief products are wheat, oats and corn. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg are the parents of nine children: William Henry, Hurbert Walter, Charles Lee, Lilly Catherine, James Franklin, Jesse James, Oscar Merrion, Mand and Alma. Politically, Mr. Brandenburg is a Democrat. His brothers. James and Thomas, were killed in battle during the late war, the latter being in command of his company at the tine he was killed.

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EORGE W. SONNEFIELD, of the firm of Sonnefield & Emmins, contractors and builders, Dallas, arrived here in the winter of 1885 and formed their partner- ship in 1887. Among the principal build- ings erected by these gentlemen are the Leach- man, on Live Oak street, the Blakeney building on Camp street, the C. W. Guild building on Ehn, street the patrol station on Commerce street, the Hinckley cornice fae- tory on South Harwood street, the Pabst beer and storage room, the Texas State Fair building and music hall, W. J. Lemp's stor- age and bottling house, Grant's and Drake's residences, and many other dwellings, etc., in Dallas and Oak Cliff, as the J. T. Dargan residence, Armstrong's two residences, etc. The firm employ on an average about fifteen men.

Mr. Sonnefield was born in Clay county. Indiana, in 1860. the eldest son in a family of ten children of J. S. and E. (Wagner) Son- nefield, natives of Indiana. His father has for a long time resided in Terre Ilante, where he was for many years contractor and builder. Mr. Sonnefield was brought up in that city, learning his trade of his father, with whom

he first formed a partnership for two years. He made his first visit to the South in 1879, going to New Mexico, where he worked at his trade. A year or so afterward he went to El Paso, that State. Returning to Indiana, he was married, in Terre Haute, in 1884, to Anna Dodson, a native of that State and a daughter of Elijah and Jane Dodson. Mr. Dodson, a pioneer of Indiana, died in 1885, aged ninety-five years: his widow is still liv- ing. Mr. Sonnefield has one child, Eva by name.

He has taken some interest in the political welfare of the country, by voting with the Democratic party. He began life for him- self a poor man, and he has also been publie- spirited and benevolent, and done his share toward building up his chosen eity. Frater- nally, he belongs to Dallas lodge, No. 70, K. of P., and he is also a member of the Uni- formed Rank of that order, Lodge No. 18. He is also a member of the Builders' Ex- change.

OM CADE, one of the oldest voters in the First Ward, was born in London, England, in 1834. His parents were William and Mariah Cade, both natives of England, where they were reared, married and reared a family of fourteen children and are there buried.

Tom was edneated in his native country and was apprentieed to the carpenter trade, at which he worked for many years. Ile later was a contractor and did the carpenter work on the road from Bryant to Corsicana, Texas. He also built several of the finest residences in Dallas, at that time. Ilis residence in Dallas dates from 1871, but he has done very little carpenter work since 1872.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 51

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1128

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128